How Arsenal can supercharge the Emirates Stadium to catch up with rivals - experts reveal five possible upgrades including a seismic change
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Josh Kroenke's words were brief, but a sign of where Arsenal and the Emirates Stadium are headed. Despite only opening in 2006 and with the memories of Highbury still fresh, the 60,000-seat, £390million arena has already started to lag behind the Gunners' rivals and is in need of renovation.
'The internal conversations are starting to occur about (the stadium),' Kroenke, son of the club's owner Stan and his point man in the UK, told ESPN in July. 'It is not an easy renovation, but we see the possibilities of what's there.'. It's understood that talks are at an early stage and the Islington Council and Transport for London (TfL) have yet to be approached by Arsenal. But behind the scenes, Mail Sport can reveal that council diktat, safety concerns and choosing the best way to expand the Emirates are just some of the hurdles that the club must overcome.
![[The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has seen Spurs overtake Arsenal for catering and hospitality]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/11/18/15/92199857-14096209-image-a-5_1731944329528.jpg)
But it's necessary. At 60,704 seats, Arsenal currently have the fifth-biggest stadium in the league - they were second when the Emirates opened. Manchester United (74,197) remain ahead, while Tottenham (62,850), West Ham (62,500) and Liverpool (61,276) have all shot past them.
![[The Kroenkes have ambitious plans on and off the field for the Gunners, including the stadium]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/11/18/15/92200013-14096209-image-a-6_1731944551689.jpg)
And Manchester City could soon also be usurping the Gunners — they are expanding their North Stand which could push the Etihad past 60,000. The £390m Emirates Stadium only opened in 2006 but the arena has already started to lag behind the Gunners' rivals.
![[Arsenal are hoping to increase the capacity of the Emirates amid huge demand for tickets]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/11/18/15/92200005-14096209-image-a-8_1731944925424.jpg)
. At the same time, other teams are looking to expand even further or move elsewhere for more room. Man United are looking at building a 100,000-seat 'Wembley of the North', while West Ham plan to increase the capacity of their London Stadium to 68,000.
![[The SoFi Stadium, home to the LA Rams, is the inspiration for other new stadium builds]](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/11/18/15/92200213-14096209-image-a-7_1731944855354.jpg)
